One woman was left stunned after an online secret Santa programme paired her with none other than the second richest person in the world – Bill Gates.

Reddit user NY1227, known only as Rachel, had no idea that the ‘Bill’ who had sent her a Christmas present was the founder of Microsoft.

The philanthropist had secretly joined redditgifts.com this year alongside thousands of others around the world.

‘Rachel’ was understandably delighted to be paired with the philanthropist (Picture: redditgifts.com)

The aim of the programme is to ‘create happiness’, the website says, by buying a stranger a well-thought-out gift and receiving one yourself.

Each person is paired with another in a ‘giant daisy chain’, with Mr Gates buying Rachel a donation to charity Heifer International on her behalf.

He also bought her a stuffed cow to represent how the charity tries to end poverty and hunger by giving communities the right tools they need to survive including animals, seeds and clean water.

‘My secret Santa present to you is a cow’ (Picture: redditgifts.com)

‘I feel SO shocked and excited that not only did I receive a gift from Bill, but it was perfectly and EXACTLY tuned into my interests. My gosh, what a rush!!,’ she told Reddit.

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‘I was so excited, the cause seemed really worthy and amazing, and it is the season of giving. By the way, the charity “gives families in need the right tools…or a chance for girls to go to school”. The last part was/is my favorite, since my master’s degree is in education and I am SO into educational benefits for all.’